Tetzaveh: Chapter 13

Two goats

Synopsis

The old sage wonders why Yisrael sent two goats for sacrifice: one for Azazel in the wilderness, and one to God. Rabbi Shimon explains that the Slanderer will think he ate from His meal and will not know of the other joyous meal prepared for God and those He loved. Even when Yisrael are in exile, when they pray Malchut ascends before God on Yom Kippur and asks mercy for her children; then God declares all His vengeance against Edom, and the Slanderer is removed from the world. Because of this, the children of Yisrael are free and joyful. Rabbi Shimon tells why a young goat is sacrificed rather than a grown one. He speaks about 'atonement' (Kippur) and says that it is so called because it cleanses all impurity from a person so that God forgives him. We read that there are five deprivations on Yom Kippur - eating and drinking, washing, anointing, wearing shoes, and having marital relations. These deprivations are so that the person may be helped by the five supernal aspects - Chesed, Gvurah, Tiferet, Netzach and Hod.